Update on Open Burning Restrictions: What It Means for the Hazelton's
Effective September 16, 2025, the BC Wildfire Service has lifted some open burning prohibitions in the Northwest Fire Centre.
Here's what local residents need to know:
What's Now Allowed
- Category 2 open fires (e.g., backyard burning, campfires larger than 0.5m x 0.5m) are now permitted throughout the entire Northwest region, including Hazelton and nearby communities.
What's Still Prohibited
- Category 3 open fires (e.g., large-scale industrial or land-clearing burns) are still banned in the:
- Nadina Fire Zone
- Bulkley Fire Zone
This includes Hazelton and most surrounding areas in the Bulkley Valley and Skeena-Stikine Forest District.
- The Category 3 ban remains in place until at least October 17, 2025, unless lifted sooner.
Please view a map of the affected areas below.
Examples of Prohibited Fires (Category 3)
- Material concurrently in three or more piles, each not exceeding 2m in height and 3m in width,
- Material in one or more piles each exceeding 2m in height or 3m in width,
- One or more windrows each not exceeding 200m in length or 15m in width, or
- Grass/stubble burning over 2,000m² (0.2 hectares)
Areas Affected
- This applies to all areas outside municipal boundaries, and includes Crown land within some municipal limits such as parks, recreation areas, and ecological reserves.
- The Village of Hazelton is specifically included in the ongoing Category 3 fire prohibition.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
- $1,150 fine or up to $10,000 administrative penalty
- If your fire causes a wildfire: up to $1 million fine, 3 years in jail, plus costs of fire suppression
Contact:
BC Wildfire Service
Information Officer
Northwest Fire Centre
BCWS.NWFCInfo@gov.bc.ca
250-876-6844
For full details or updates, visit: BC Wildfire Service - Northwest Fire Centre